Lagos, in urban renewal drive, names estate after Enahoro

The estate comprises 20 blocks of flats, 240 housing units on two adjacent locations. The flats provide 80 units each of one bedroom, two bedroom and three bedroom for medium income families, while the initial phase consists of 300 units

IN agreement with the Lagos State Government’s urban renewal drive, a total of 540 housing units, located in Ogba environ of the state, was unveiled last week.

The estate, which was originally called Sogunro Re-housing Estate, was upon completion renamed as Chief Anthony Enahoro Housing Estate.

The unveiling of the newly built residential project, which came after the state had successfully redeveloped some communities including Reclamation Road, Martins Street, Breadfruit, all in the Lagos Island, with government’s decision to relocate the residents, was renamed in honour of a late frontline politician and nationalist, Chief Enahoro.

The rebuilt estate, which is part of the state’s urban regeneration programme, was one of the projects to be reconstructed to conform to the urban renewal programme of the state.

Apart from Sogunro community, past beneficiaries of urban regeneration programmes embarked upon by the government include Isalegangan, also in Lagos Island and other communities who were moved to New Lagos in Surulere where multiple re-housing schemes had been developed.

The project, developed by the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC), was conceived under the urban renewal programme aiming at transforming the dilapidated, water logged and decaying environment within the Sogunro/Oluwole Ogba resettlement estates to a Modern Housing Estate on a land area of 1.815 Hectares and 1.315 Hectares respectively.

The estate comprises of 20 blocks of flats (240 housing units) on two adjacent locations. The flats provide 80 units each of one bedroom, two bedroom and three bedroom for 240 families, while the first phase consists of 300 units.

The ancillary/ common facilities provided for each location are as follows: Community Hall, Dedicated transformers and Street lighting; dedicated generator for common facilities; refuse houses and dedicated water supply/ treatment plants.

Others are laundromats, parking space, perimeter fence including gates and gatehouses, walkways, covered drains, children playgrounds and ell landscaped environment

Each flat is well finished as follows: glazed vitrified floor tiles in all rooms; ceramic wall tiles in all toilets and kitchen; fitted granite top kitchen cabinet; premium quality wardrobes; polished laminated internal doors; external steel security doors; heat/ odour expellers and two entrances each.

The estates’ elevated was designed to overcome the flood that usually occupies the sites each time it rains.
At the commissioning ceremony, Governor Fashola who emphasised the commitment of his administration to the sustainability of LagosHOMS’ initiative, said the hand over of Sogunro estate was part of promise fulfilled.

According to him, government promised a decent and affordable housing for the residents. “But because of limited fund, we fashioned out a realistic programme that is capable of making us actualize our promise, hence, LagosHOMS, initiative. Today, many people who never dreamt of having houses of their own are now proud owners of their homes. This is a government that doesn’t make hollow promise. This is another evidence of promise fulfilled”, said Fashola.

Commissioner for Housing, Mr. Bosun Jeje, in his address, said the ministry is working in tandem with other relevant agencies like LSDPC, NTDA, Lagos State Mortgage Board and others o ensure that Governor Babatunde Fashola’s administration housing goals are achieved, especially, LagosHOMS.

“We are not relenting in our efforts to ensure that housing needs of Lagos residents are achieved and that is why we ensure that we are not working at cross purposes with other agencies that are saddled with the responsibility of housing delivery in Lagos”, said Jeje.
Earlier, Managing Director, LSDPC, Mr. Biodun Oki, said the full development and habitation of the adjoining Ogba Industrial Estate with roads and infrastructure affected the existing Sogunro Estate, which became a collection centre for storm water thereby causing perennial flooding that made life unbearable for residents.

“Subsequently, the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development were directed to move in and clear the estate and redesign the neighborhood with a view to facilitating a regeneration that would take care of affected residents as well as provide new units.

“Naturally, residents were skeptical and initially uncooperative, but the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation was able to reassure residents of the state government’s resolve and sincerity”, Oki said, adding that already, 16 of 32 families affected by the redevelopment have taken possession of their new flats while the remaining have been drawn and won by lucky residents of the state.